A Guide to Cake Smash Sessions: Celebrating One Sweet Year

There’s something incredibly special about turning one.

It’s the year of first smiles, first giggles, first steps, and countless memories that somehow flew by in the blink of an eye. A cake smash session is a joyful and playful way to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime milestone and capture your little one’s personality exactly as they are.

Over the past 15 years of photographing cake smash sessions, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to help make your session fun, stress-free, and filled with sweet memories.

What Should My Child Wear?

Most of my one-year-olds are photographed in two outfits:

• A special first birthday outfit for milestone portraits
• A simple cake smash outfit for the messy fun

For the smash portion, less is often more. Diaper covers, bloomers, suspenders, rompers, or simple cloth diapers photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your little one’s adorable expressions.

Choosing Props and Themes

Cake smash sessions are the perfect opportunity to get creative!

Think about a theme that reflects your child’s personality or something you simply love. Balloons photograph beautifully outdoors, while fabric banners, baskets, wooden crates, and simple themed decor all add lovely touches to your session.

And don’t worry if you don’t know where to begin. Over the years, I’ve collected an extensive assortment of props and love helping parents bring their ideas to life. Communication is key, so don’t hesitate to share your vision with me!

Let’s Talk Cake

I ask families to provide their own cakes due to potential allergies and dietary concerns.

The good news? The cake doesn’t need to be elaborate. In fact, simple cakes often photograph the best.

A few recommendations:

• Choose buttercream frosting rather than fondant.
• Soft, muted colors tend to photograph beautifully.
• Keep the design simple.

A few things I suggest avoiding:

• Chocolate cake or chocolate frosting (trust me on this one!)
• Large amounts of bright red icing, which can stain little faces and hands and be distracting in photographs.

A Little Reality Check

This might surprise you, but not every baby loves cake.

Some babies dive right in with both hands, while others cautiously poke it with one finger. Some prefer eating the cake, and others simply enjoy smashing it. And occasionally, a few little ones want absolutely nothing to do with getting messy.

And that’s perfectly okay.

My biggest piece of advice is to keep your expectations realistic and let your child lead the experience. We follow their cues and go with the flow. Beautiful images happen regardless of whether your baby demolishes the cake or simply studies it from a safe distance.

If your child is hesitant, it can be helpful to bring a few favorite snacks, such as puffs or Cheerios, to place near or on the cake to encourage interaction.

Consider a Test Run

Some babies have texture sensitivities, food aversions, or allergies that parents don’t discover until cake day.

I highly recommend introducing your little one to a small cupcake at home before the session. It gives them a chance to explore frosting and textures in a low-pressure environment and can help everyone know what to expect.

Prepare for the Mess

And yes… it can get messy.

Really messy.

Bring:

• Plenty of wipes
• A towel for cleanup
• A fresh outfit for your little one after the session
• Maybe even an extra shirt for yourself—just in case!

You’ll be thankful when it’s time to head home.

How Long Does a Cake Smash Session Last?

Cake smash sessions typically last about one hour.

We’ll begin with milestone portraits while your little one is clean and fresh. Once we’ve captured those sweet birthday images, we’ll bring out the cake and let the fun begin.

Believe it or not, the actual “smash” portion usually lasts only about 10 to 15 minutes. At one year old, little attention spans move quickly, and that’s perfectly normal.

Should Siblings Come?

If possible, I often recommend leaving siblings at home.

Depending on their age, they may not understand why they can’t have cake too, which can make it difficult to keep the focus on your birthday child.

This session celebrates one incredible year of your little one’s life, and we want this special milestone to be all about them.

Most Importantly… Have Fun

Cake smash sessions are wonderfully unpredictable.

There may be frosting-covered fingers, icing in hair, and tiny footprints across the backdrop. There may be giggles, curious expressions, or even a few tears.

Every reaction is part of your child’s story.

One year only happens once, and these beautifully messy moments deserve to be remembered exactly as they are—sweet, imperfect, and absolutely unforgettable.